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17 Best Small Business Credit Cards – Reviews & Comparison

Advertiser Disclosure: This post includes references to offers from our partners such as American Express. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. However, the opinions expressed here are ours alone and at no time has the editorial content been provided, reviewed, or approved by any issuer.

Small business credit cards are increasingly popular business financing options, particularly for entrepreneurs who don’t qualify for traditional business loans and don’t have access to networks filled with deep-pocketed family members, friends, and colleagues. No matter what your business does, a credit card can probably help – as long as you use credit wisely and avoid making purchases your company can’t afford.

Small business credit cards typically have higher spending limits and more generous rewards programs than consumer cards. Some have additional benefits, such as low APRs, attractive balance transfer promotions, personalized concierge service, and fringe benefits. However, many also come with annual fees and require good or excellent credit to qualify.

Best Small Business Credit Cards

The following small business credit cards offer a favorable mix of advantages and drawbacks for business owners with strong credit.

Chase Ink Business Preferred is Chase’s flagship business credit card. Though it has a $95 annual fee that’s not waived in the first year, you get what you pay for: a generous rewards program that favors travel and everyday business purchases, an attractive points transfer feature that lets you swap your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for other companies’ loyalty currency at a 1-to-1 ratio, and (perhaps best of all) a massive sign-up bonus worth up to $1,000 in free travel.

When you spend at least $5,000 within three months of opening your account, you get 80,000 bonus Ultimate Rewards points. That’s worth $800 when redeemed for cash, and $1,000 when redeemed for travel (thanks to Chase’s 25% bonus on all travel redemptions). If you travel a lot for business, that’s hard to resist.

This card’s regular rewards program is equally impressive. The 3x tier is unusually generous: cardholders get 3 points per $1 spent on travel, shipping purchases, telecommunications purchases (such as Internet, cable, mobile phone bills), and advertising, up to $150,000 in combined spending across those categories. All other purchases earn unlimited 1 point per $1 spent. Redemption options include cash, travel, gift cards, Amazon.com purchases, general merchandise, and much more. And cardholders can increase the value and flexibility of their earned points by transferring them at a 1-to-1 ratio to popular travel loyalty programs such as British Airways Executive Club, Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards, United MileagePlus, Marriott Rewards, and IHG Rewards Club.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 80,000 Ultimate Rewards points, worth up to $1,000 on travel and $800 in cash, when you spend at least $5,000 within three months of account opening.

Key Fees. There’s a $95 annual fee, but no foreign transaction fee.

Introductory APR. There’s no introductory APR promotion.

Other Perks. This card comes with a slew of value-added benefits, including a cell phone protection plan (up to $600) when you pay your cell phone bill in full with your card; complimentary loss and damage coverage on rental cars paid in full with this card; purchase protection for up to 120 days; extended warranties on purchased items with existing manufacturers’ warranties; and trip cancellation and interruption insurance worth up to $5,000 per incident.

Ink Business CashSM is a popular business credit card with a generous cash back rewards program, solid sign-up bonus, and reasonable APR. It holds down the Ink stable with the Chase Ink Business Preferred Card (see above), an even more generous business cash back card.

When you spend at least $3,000 within three months of opening your account, you get $300 bonus cash back. From day one, you earn 5% cash back for office supply store and communications purchases (including Internet, TV, landline, and cell phone services), up to $25,000 per year. You earn 2% cash back on gas station and restaurant purchases, up to $25,000 per year. After reaching the $25,000 cap, you earn unlimited 1% cash back on these spending categories. All other purchases earn 1% unlimited cash back as well.

Redeem accumulated cash back for statement credits or direct deposits starting at $20, airfare booked through Chase’s Ultimate Rewards portal (which offers the opportunity to boost your cash back by 20%, turning $500 in cash back into $625 in travel purchases), gift cards, and Amazon purchases. Redemptions start at $20.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn $300 bonus cash back when you spend at least $3,000 within three months of signing up.

Other Perks. Chase’s Purchase Protection plan covers new purchases against damage or theft for 120 days, up to $10,000 per claim and $50,000 total per account. The Extended Warranty plan offers complimentary extended warranty protection for an additional 12 months on warranties originally set to expire after three years or less.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express is a popular business charge card. As a charge card, it requires full balance payment by the statement due date, but doesn’t have regular interest charges.

The Business Platinum Card comes with a generous sign-up bonus and lavish perks that compensate for a hefty annual fee of $450. These perks include complimentary access to more than 1,000 airport lounges worldwide through the American Express Global Lounge Collection; free WiFi at more than 1 million Boingo hotspots worldwide; reimbursement for TSA Precheck application fees (up to $100); a $200 annual statement credit for incidental purchases made with an airline of your choice; a 35% bonus when using points to book travel with your selected qualifying airline, up to 500,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points each calendar year; and 35% of your points back on all first and business class travel booked with any qualifying airline through the American Express Travel booking portal.

The Business Platinum Card from American Express has a points-based rewards system. There’s a sign-up bonus of up to 75,000 Membership Rewards® points, good for $750 in travel booked through American Express’s portal (or even more when transferring to partner travel programs). Airfare and prepaid hotel purchases booked through American Express Travel earn unlimited 5 points per $1 spent. Purchases greater than $5,000 earn 1.5 points per $1 spent, up to a total of 1 million bonus Membership Rewards® each year. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1 point per $1.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 75,000 Membership Rewards® points, worth $750 or more on travel. You get 50,000 points after spending at least $10,000 in purchases within three months of opening your account. Then an additional 25,000 points after spending another $10,000 in purchases within the same three-month period.

Introductory APR. Charge cards such as the Business Platinum Card don’t charge interest at all, so there’s no intro APR to worry about here.

Other Perks. The Business Platinum Card has a host of lesser perks, including insurance coverage up to $2,000 for checked baggage ($3,000 cumulatively for checked and carry-on baggage) and 24/7 travel concierge service.

The Business Gold Rewards Card is another American Express charge card with a rather high annual fee, a solid rewards program, a nice sign-up bonus, and attractive membership perks.

When you spend at least $5,000 within three months of opening your account, you earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points. You also get three points per $1 spent in one spending category of your choosing, up to $100,000 in purchases annually. Categories include airfare purchased directly from airlines, advertising, gas stations, shipping (including UPS and FedEx), and computing (hardware, software, and cloud services). You get 2 points per $1 spent in the four remaining categories, also up to $100,000 in purchases annually in each category. Above the $100,000 caps, purchases in the five categories earn an unlimited 1 point per $1 spent. All other purchases also earn 1 point per $1 spent. Keep in mind that the categories account for U.S. purchases only, with the exception of airlines.

Redeem your points for gift cards, travel purchases, online merchandise, and more through American Express’s Membership Rewards® portal. Redemptions start at 1,000 points, and points are worth between $0.005 and $0.01 when redeemed. Terms and conditions apply – see the full list of rates and fees.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 50,000 Membership Rewards® points, worth up to $500 on travel, when you spend at least $5,000 within three months of account opening.

Key Fees. There’s a $175 annual fee, waived in the first year, and no foreign transaction fees. Late payments cost $38 or 2.99% of the late balance. Returned payments cost $38.

Introductory APR. Like all charge cards, the Business Gold Rewards Card has no intro or regular APR.

APR. Though this card doesn’t have a regular APR, you need to pay your balance in full within two billing cycles or risk account closure and a blemish on your credit report.

Other Perks. There’s no preset spending limit on this card, though failure to pay your balance can lead to restrictions. Also, the baggage protection program covers carry-on bags (up to $1,250) and checked bags (up to $500) from damage and theft.

The SimplyCash Plus Business Credit Card is a popular American Express credit card with a generous sign-up bonus, solid cash rewards program, and relatively low fees. However, you can’t make balance transfers with this card.

When you spend at least $5,000 within six months of account opening, you get a $200 statement credit. If you spend $10,000 on top of that within 12 months of account opening, you get another $200 statement credit for a total of $400. Office supply and cell phone purchases (in the U.S. only) earn 5% cash back, up to $50,000 per year. Purchases (also in the U.S. only) in one additional category of your choice earn 3% cash back, up to $50,000 per year. Available categories include hotels, airfare, car rentals, gas stations, restaurants, advertising, shipping, and computer hardware, software, or cloud computing. After the $50,000 limits, purchases in the 3% and 5% categories earn unlimited 1% cash back, as do all other purchases. Cash back automatically comes as a statement credit on the second statement after it’s earned. Terms and conditions apply – see the full list of rates and fees.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn up to $400 in statement credits: $200 when you spend at least $5,000 within six months of account opening and another $200 when you spend an additional $10,000 within 12 months.

Key Fees. There’s no annual fee, but foreign transactions cost 2.7%, and late and returned payments cost $38.

Spark Cash for Business is very similar to Spark Miles for Business. The rates, fees, and sign-up bonus value are identical. The primary difference is a cash-based, not miles-based, rewards system.

When you sign up for this card and spend at least $4,500 within three months, you get $500 bonus cash back. From the outset, all purchases earn unlimited 2% cash back, with no caps or restrictions. You can redeem accumulated cash back in any amount for checks or general statement credits.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn $500 bonus cash back when you spend at least $4,500 within three months of account opening.

Key Fees. There’s a $59 annual fee, waived for the first year, but no balance transfer or foreign transaction fees. Cash advances cost the greater of $10 or 3%.

Introductory APR. There’s no intro APR.

Other Perks. Get a customized, itemized quarterly spending report with your statement four times per year.

Capital One’s Spark Miles for Business has a modest annual fee, a solid travel rewards program, and a very attractive sign-up bonus.

When you spend at least $4,500 in three months, you earn 50,000 bonus miles – good for statement credits of up to $500 on travel purchases. All purchases earn an unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent, with no spending caps or categories. Accumulated miles can be redeemed for statement credits or direct purchases (through Capital One) on a wide range of travel-related items, including airfare and hotel stays, at a rate of $0.01 per mile.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 50,000 bonus miles, worth up to $500 in travel, when you spend at least $4,500 within three months of account opening.

Key Fees. The $59 annual fee is waived for the first year. Cash advances cost the greater of $10 or 3%, and there’s no balance transfer fee or foreign transaction fee.

Introductory APR. There’s no intro APR.

Other Perks. Capital One’s emergency assistance program reimburses you for trips and reservations that need to be canceled due to illness, accidents, and other uncontrollable events.

Every $1 spent at participating Starwood (including Sheraton and Westin) and Marriott Rewards properties earns you 2 Starpoints, with no spending limits or restrictions. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1 point per $1 spent. You can redeem accumulated Starpoints for free nights at Starwood hotels, at a value of up to $0.025 apiece, or transfer your Starpoints to 30 participating frequent flyer programs (covering 150 airlines). Transfers greater than 20,000 points earn a 5,000 Starpoint bonus. All told, this is a great card for business owners who regularly travel. Terms and conditions apply – see the full list of rates and fees.

Sign-up Bonus. 25,000 Starpoints when you spend at least $5,000 within the first three months of card membership

Key Fees. The card’s annual fee is $95, waived in the first year, and there are no foreign transaction fees. Balance transfers and cash advances cost the greater of $5 or 3%. Late and returned payments cost $38.

Introductory APR. None.

Other Perks. Enjoy free in-room premium WiFi, free access to thousands of Boingo WiFi hotspots worldwide, and reimbursement up to $300 per item and $1,200 per calendar year for merchandise returns rejected by the original retailer.

9. The Blue BusinessSMPlus Credit Card from American Express

2X Points on up to $50,000 in Purchases per Year

Blue Business Plus is a popular American Express business card with a nice rewards program and a long 0% APR introductory promotion.

This card rewards you for conducting business as usual. You earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. The 2X rate applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter.

Redeem accumulated points for gift cards, online merchandise purchases, travel purchases, and more through American Express’s Membership Rewards® portal. Points are typically worth $0.005 to $0.01 when redeemed, and redemption minimums start at 1,000 points. Terms and conditions apply – see the full list of rates and fees.

Capital One Spark Cash Select for Business is very similar to Capital One Spark Miles Select. Rates and fees are basically identical, with the main difference being a cash-based (not miles-based) rewards program.

When you sign up and spend at least $3,000 within the first three months of membership, you get $200 bonus cash. From day one, all purchases earn an unlimited 1.5% cash back, with no caps or restrictions. You can redeem accumulated cash back for general statement credits or mailed checks in any amount.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn $200 bonus cash when you spend at least $3,000 within three months of account opening.

Key Fees. There’s no annual fee, balance transfer fee, or foreign transaction fee. Late payments cost up to $39, while cash advances cost the greater of $10 or 3%.

Introductory APR. There is a 0% purchase APR for the first nine months.

Capital One Spark Miles Select for Business is a no-frills business credit card with a solid rewards program, nice sign-up bonus, and minimal fees.

When you sign up and spend at least $3,000 within three months, you get 20,000 bonus miles. All purchases earn an unlimited 1.5 miles per $1 spent, with no caps or restrictions. You can redeem miles for travel-related purchases, such as airfare, hotel stays, and car rentals, either purchased directly through Capital One or via statement credit. Miles are always worth $0.01 apiece upon redemption.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 20,000 bonus miles, worth $200 in travel reimbursements, when you spend at least $3,000 within three months of account opening.

Spark Classic doesn’t have overly generous rewards or a sign-up bonus. It also suffers from a higher-than-average APR relative to other business credit cards. However, it’s one of the few cards on this list that doesn’t require good or excellent credit – according to Capital One, it’s geared toward business owners with average credit, and boasts some credit-tracking and -building tools to keep cardholders moving in the right direction.

From day one, all purchases with this card earn an unlimited 1% cash back. You can redeem accumulated cash back for general statement credits or checks.

Sign-up Bonus. There’s no sign-up bonus.

Key Fees. There’s no annual fee, foreign transaction, or balance transfer fees. Cash advances cost the greater of $10 or 3%, and late payments cost up to $39.

The Business Green Rewards Card is an approachable American Express business rewards charge card with a lower annual fee, less generous rewards, and fewer perks than its fellow Amex OPEN business cards.

Your first purchase after sign-up earns you 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points. Travel purchases booked through American Express Travel earn an unlimited 2 points per $1 spent. All other purchases earn an unlimited 1 point per $1 spent. Points can be redeemed for gift cards, travel purchases, online merchandise, and other items, starting at a redemption minimum of 1,000. Point values typically range from $0.005 to $0.01 at redemption, depending on what they’re being redeemed for – gift cards are worth up to $0.01 per point, while entertainment purchases are generally worth $0.005. Terms and conditions apply – see the full list of rates and fees.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 5,000 bonus Membership Rewards® points, good for up to $50 in travel and other items, when you make your first purchase.

Key Fees. There’s a $95 annual fee, waived in the first year. Foreign transactions cost 2.7% of the total transaction amount. Late payments cost $38 or 2.99%, and returned payments always cost $38.

Introductory APR. Like all charge cards, this card has no intro or regular APR.

APR. Though you don’t have to worry about regular interest charges with this card, you’re expected to pay your balance in full each month. Failure to do so within two billing cycles could result in account closure and other undesirable consequences, such as a default judgment.

Other Perks. There’s no preset spending limit, though your account may be restricted if you fail to pay your balance in full on time. Also, when you charge the full fare on your card, complimentary travel insurance covers accidental death and dismemberment (up to $100,000) on common conveyances (such as planes, trains, boats, and cars).

The Plum Card is a business charge card with flexible payment terms (by charge card standards) and a bevy of other useful perks. However, its annual fee is on the high side, and it lacks a rewards program.

As a Plum Card member, you get an unlimited 1.5% discount when you pay your card balance in full within 10 days of your statement closing date, payable as a statement credit on the following billing statement. For instance, if you pay a $1,000 balance within 10 days of statement closing, your next statement includes a $15 credit.

As long as you make at least the minimum payment (typically 10% of new payment activity, plus any carried balance) by your statement due date, you can wait until the following statement’s due date to pay the remainder of your balance without incurring penalty fees. Most charge cards require you to pay in full at each statement due date. Terms and conditions apply – see the full list of rates and fees.

Sign-up Bonus. There’s no sign-up bonus.

Key Fees. There’s a $250 annual fee, waived in the first year, and no foreign transaction fee. Late payments cost a minimum of $38 and may range up to 2.99% of the late amount. Returned payments cost $38.

Introductory APR. This charge card has no regular or intro APR.

APR. Though this card doesn’t accrue interest charges, failure to pay in timely fashion can result in account closure.

Other Perks. There’s no preset spending limit, though American Express may impose spending limits in response to changes in your payment history or credit. Also, it includes complimentary baggage insurance (for theft and damage, up to $1,250 for carry-on luggage and $500 for checked bags) and accidental death and dismemberment insurance for travel-related incidents.

U.S. Bank Business Edge Cash Rewards is a business credit card with a great rewards system and nice value-added perks. However, it doesn’t have a sign-up bonus.

This card earns unlimited 3% cash back on cellular, gas (up to $200 per transaction), and office supply purchases, plus unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases. Every year, you get a 25% cash back bonus (up to $250) based on your prior year’s cash rewards – so, if you earn $100 cash back in a year, you get a $25 bonus. Redeem accumulated cash back rewards for deposits (to U.S. Bank accounts only), U.S. Bank prepaid gift cards, or statement credits. The redemption minimum is $25.

Other Perks. U.S. Bank Connect, which is complimentary with card membership, is a “free online resource and community for business owners with tips and information to help start, run and grow their business.”

U.S. Bank Business Edge Platinum is a no-frills business credit card with a 12-month intro APR period and relatively low ongoing APR. Although it lacks a sign-up bonus or rewards program, it’s a great card for business owners looking to transfer higher-interest debt from other credit cards or finance purchases without worrying about incurring interest charges immediately.

17. CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard®

CitiBusiness / AAdvantage Platinum Select is a popular business credit card with a generous rewards program, attractive sign-up bonus, and nice fringe benefits. Its non-business counterpart is the Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select.

When you sign up and spend at least $1,000 within three months, you earn 30,000 bonus American Airlines AAdvantage miles, worth up to $300. All American Airlines, car rental, telecommunications, and gas station purchases earn an unlimited 2 miles per $1 spent, with no caps or restrictions. Purchases in other categories earn an unlimited 1 mile per $1 spent. You can redeem accumulated miles for American Airlines airfare purchases, starting at a minimum of 12,500. The value of miles can range from less than $0.01 to around $0.02, depending on the dollar cost of the flight for which they’re redeemed.

Sign-up Bonus. Earn 30,000 American Airlines AAdvantage bonus miles, good for up to $300 in airfare, when you spend $1,000 within three months of account opening.

Key Fees. There’s a $95 annual fee, waived during the first year, but no foreign transaction fee. Late fees range from $15 to $39, depending on balance size. Balance transfers and cash advances cost the greater of $5 or 3%.

Introductory APR. There’s no intro APR.

Other Perks. The first checked bag is always free for you and up to four companions (including employees). Also, you always get Group 1 boarding on American Airlines flights, plus 25% off all in-flight purchases.

Final Word

The sharing economy is changing what it means to be in business for yourself. Being an entrepreneur today can be as simple as driving for a ridesharing app in your spare time, renting out an extra bedroom for short stays on Airbnb, or putting up a personal website touting your freelance skills. You don’t need thousands of dollars in startup capital, a dedicated office, or employees working under you.

If you’re a lean, modern “solopreneur,” you might not realize that you’re eligible to apply for business credit cards – but you probably are. And even if you aren’t in business for yourself at the moment, starting your own small business is likely to be simpler than you think. When the time comes to set out on your own, make sure you have a trusty spending ally in your wallet.

Keep in mind that qualifying for business credit cards is a bit different from qualifying for consumer credit cards. Some issuers simply require you to submit a valid Social Security number and affirm in writing that you’ll use the card exclusively for business purposes. Such laid-back issuers welcome freelancers and solopreneurs – basically, anyone who files a Schedule C at tax time, including people who don’t really think of themselves as business owners.

Some issuers are more strict. They request a federal employer identification number (EIN), seek evidence of incorporation, or ask for financial statements. If you can’t prove that you actually own an incorporated business with legitimate cash flow, you won’t qualify.

Also, remember that business credit cards are exempt from some of the protections of the CARD Act, including the requirement that card issuers regularly notify cardholders of changes in terms and conditions.

What’s your favorite credit card for business spending?

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Editorial Note: The editorial content on this page is not provided by any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. Opinions expressed here are the author's alone, not those of the bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

Brian Martucci is a blogger-journalist who writes about frugal living, entrepreneurship, and innovative ideas. When he’s not interviewing small business owners or investigating time-, money- and stress-saving strategies for Money Crashers readers, he’s probably out exploring a new trail or sampling a novel cuisine. Find him on Twitter @Brian_Martucci.

Comments Disclosure: The below responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

The content on MoneyCrashers.com is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. References to products, offers, and rates from third party sites often change. While we do our best to keep these updated, numbers stated on this site may differ from actual numbers. We may have financial relationships with some of the companies mentioned on this website. Among other things, we may receive free products, services, and/or monetary compensation in exchange for featured placement of sponsored products or services. We strive to write accurate and genuine reviews and articles, and all views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors.